Memorandum device



March 10, 1 925.

G. P. DRAvo MEMORANDUM DEVICE Filed Sept. 26, 1924 Patented Mar. 10, 1925.

UNITED STATES GEORGE P. DRA'VO, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

MEMORANDUM DEVICE.

Application filed September 26, 1924. Serial No. 739,984.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE P. Dream, a citizen of the United States. residing at 650'Lawton Place, Milwaukee, county -of Milwaukee, and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Memorandum Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in memorandum devices.

The particular embodiment of this invention which is hereinafter to be described is specially adapted for use in connection with motor vehicles and is intended to provide a convenient means for recording items incidental to touring or to the operation of the vehicle in general. The device may also be used in connection with a telephone to make any desired memoranda and it has many other possible uses. It will. however, be described particularly with reference to its intended service in connection with the operation of motor vehicles.

It is the object of this invention to provide a novel and simple device of the character described which will include means for facilitating the manipulation of a paper web or other flexible memorandum sheet therein so that the placement or removal of the web from the device can readily be accomplished. It is a further object of the invention to provide novel and simple means within small compass for operatively supporting the web and providing conveniently for the inscription of memoranda thereon.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of an embodiment of this lIQBIltlOI].

Figure 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1. J

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing the device open.

Figure 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3. p

Figure 5 is a detail view, in perspective, of the rear and side portions of the device. Figure 6 is a detail view. in perspective, of a specific and preferred form of attach ing device for the mounting of the parts shown in the remaining views.

Like parts are identified by the samereference characters throughout the several views.

. The casing or. housing for the memoranldum device shown in the drawings comprises two parts 10 and 1 1, the former of which is adapted to be mounted upon a suitable support and the latter of which is pivotedgat 12 to the former. The part 10 may conveniently be made in the form of a shallow tray of substantially uniform cross section throughout but the part 11 is preferably of comparatively great depth at 13 and becomes more shallow from that point to a point 14 adjacent its free end.- It is there provided wth a cylindrically bulged portion 15 adapted to receive one of a pair of compression feed :rollers 16 and 17..

These rollers are preferably both journaled in the sides of the casing part 11.

In the inclined wall 20 of the device there is formed "an opening-21 preferably of rectangular form. Wall 20 is adapted to support the hand or forearm of a person writing memoranda through the opening 21.

The casing or housing part 10 carries a member which includes integrally a shelf a portion 22 and a table or support 23 for a web 24 which may be advanced beneath the opening 21. The parts 10 and 11 are provided at the ends opposite to their hinged connection 2 with a complementary rib 25 and channel 26 adapted, through the resilience of the parts. for interlocking engagement to hold part 11 in its closed position as shown in Figure 2. In that position the support or table portion 23 of the shelf member 22 will be in substantial 'paral= lelism to the wall 20 of easing part 11 and will be closely adjacent thereto. In this way. when the casing part '11 is in its closed pos tion. the web 24 is always supported operatively in front of the opening 21 so that a person may conveniently write thereon through said opening. At theysame time, the web need not he threaded through slots or confined spaces as issometimes necessary where it is supported entirely from the apertured part through which memoranda are written. It will be noted that the web is fed u wardly across its supporting member 23 between the rollers 16 and 17. one of which is provided with an extended shaft 27 having a. knurled lrnob 28 for its rotation and the consequent advance of the web.

The portions of the web upon which memoranda have'been inscribed and wh ch have been advanced by the rotation of the knurled knob 28 are allowed to fall onto the shelf portion of member-22 from which they may readily be withdrawn when desired by swinging the casing part 11 to its open position as shown in Figure 3. The fact that both of rollers 16 and 17 are mounted in casing part 11 ensures that the paper bearing memoranda will be drawn from the shelf 22 when the case is open and will thereby be very accessible.

Any desired source of supply for the paper web 24 may be arranged in the lower part of the casmg, the deep portlon 13 thereof roviding adequate room. As .indicated 1n the drawings, the casing may be provided with integrally formed embossed recesses 29 which are adapted to engage the shaft 30 upon which web 24 is wound in the form of a roll 31. Rolls may readily be interchanged by springing outwardly the side walls of casing part 11 to release the studs or projections 30 from engagement with the 'rccesses29.

The enlarged portion 13 of easing part 11 not only provides accommodation for a large sized roll 31 but also ensures a convenient inclination for wall 20 so that memoranda may ver readily be made upon the device whether it is lying flat upon a table or other supporting surface, or whetherit is supported in a vertical position as indicated in the drawing.

Since it is primarily my purpose to provide convenient means for makmg memoranda in connection with the operation of motor vehicles, I have illustrated at 35 a portion of an automobile dash which is provided with a special fitting 36 comprising one means for the mounting of-this device. This fitting is adapted to be inconspicuous when the device is in use and nevertheless to permit the instant detachment or replacement thereof.

The fitting 36 comprises a clip having its end portions 37 bent back into substantial parallelism with its central portion 38 and in spaced relation thereto. The central portion 38 is secured to the dash 35 by screws- 39 having countersunk heads as indicated. .The casing part 10 of the memorandum device may conveniently be provided at its rear with a tongue member 41 which may be integrally cut from the rear wall of said casing part and is disposed in spaced relation to said part. The tongue 41 may be inserted easily from above into the cli device 36 between the portions '38 and 3 thereof, whereby to support the memorandum device 'removably in position for use. In such position it is possible for the operator 0f a motor vehicle .to keep a record of his fuel, oil and water consumption or of the mileage covered between cities enroute or to preserve'any other desired data with reference to the travel of the vehicle, expenses incurred, etc.

-.In practice I have found that the upper free margin of casin part 11 serves as an excellent guide for t e detachment of used portions of the web. Obvious] if it is desired to preserve all used ortions of the web for a considerable perio such port-ions may be allowed to rest for such period upon the shelf member 22. v

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a casing including two relatively separable parts and adapted'to house a rolled web. of means connected with one of said parts for the support ofsaid casing, and a web advancing means wholly supported in the other of said parts whereby to render accessible upon the separation of said parts a web associated with said means.

2. In, a device of the character described, the combination with a casing comprising two relatively separable parts, and means for supporting a flexible Web therein, of a web receiving member connected with one of the parts of said casing, and a web advancing device connected with the other part of sand casing and including a pair of feed rollers between which said web is threaded, said device being adapted to withdraw said web from said member when said parts are separated.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a casing comprising two relatively separable parts in hinged connection, one of said parts having an apertured wall, of a supporting member connected with the other of said parts and including a portion normally in substantial parallelism to said wall, and web supporting and advancing means wholly carried by the part havinr. the apertured wall positioned respectivelv'upon either side of said aperture whereby to be adapted to deliver the web across said portion and operatively past the aperture of said wall.

4. In a device of the character described,

the combination with a casing having two relatively separable parts, one of which includes an apertured wall, of a web spreading member connected with the other of said parts, and including a portion in substantial parallelism to said wall and operatively adjacent to aperture therein, and web advancing means within said casing and adapted to draw a web across said portion past said aperture.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with a casing having a relatively fixed tray portion and a complementary portion in hinged relation to said tray portion and provided with an inclined apertured wall, of a shelf member projecting from said tray portion intermediate its ends and provided with a table member substantially parallel to said wall and immediately beneath the aperture thereof.

- 6. In a device of the character described, the combination with a casing having a reloperatively supported llt ' beneath the aperture atively fixed tray portion and a complementary portion in hinged relation to said tray portion and provided with an inclined apertured wall, of a shelf member projecting from said trayportion intermediate its ends and provided with a table member substantially parallel to said wall and immediately thereof, and a pair of feed rollers in operative proximity and supported by said-complementary casing portion in operative association with said apertured wall, and adapted to draw a web of material across said table and immediately before the aperture of said wall.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination with a casing having a relatively fixed tray portion and a complementary portion in hinged relation to said tray portion and provided with an inclined apertured wall, of a shelf member projecting from said tray portion intermediate its ends and provided with a table member substantially parallel to said wall and immediately beneath the aperture thereof, and a pair of feed rollers in operative proximity and supported by said complementary casing portion in operative association with said apertured wall, and adapted to draw a web of material across said table and immediately before the aperture of said wall, said complementary casing portion being formed to support said rollers in a position where their line of contact with said web will be substantially in a plane of said table.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with a casing member in the form of a shallow tray, of a'second casing member hingedly connected at its end with said first mentioned casing member and impositively engageable therewith at its other end, said second casing member beingprovided adjacent its ends with cylindrically rounded portions of different sizes and having intermediate said portions an inclined in substantial parallelism with said inclined wall and immediately adjacent the aperture therein.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination with a casing member in the form of a shallow tray, of a second casing member hingedly connected'at its end with said first mentioned casing member and impositively engageable therewith at its other end, said second casing member being provided adjacent its ends with cylindrically rounded portions of different sizes and having intermediate said portions an inclined wall provided with an aperture, means for supporting within the larger cylindrical rounded portion aforesaid a web-"apply rol and a web advancing roll housed within the smaller cylindrically rounded portion aforesaid, means co-operating with said last mentioned roll to support a web in operative engagement therewith, and a table positioned in substantial parallelism with said inclined wall and immediately adjacent the aperture therein, said table being supported from said first mentioned casing member whereby said wall may be separated from said table upon the hinged movement of said second mentioned casing member.

GEORGE P. DRAVO. 

